U.S. Military Facilitates Over 660 Million Barrels of Oil Through Strait of Hormuz Since May The U.S. military has played a critical role in ensuring the safe passage of more than 660 million barrels of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz since early May, according to Central Command. This figure, shared with CNBC, highlights the military’s ongoing efforts to maintain maritime security in the strategically vital waterway. U.S. Navy Capt. Tim Hawkins, a Central Command spokesperson, confirmed that the military has assisted approximately 1,300 commercial vessels in transiting the strait during the same period. Hawkins emphasized that "multiple routes remain free and open for commercial transit," underscoring the resilience of global oil supply chains despite persistent threats. The military’s data suggests that at least 160 million barrels, or over 7 million barrels per day, have passed through the strait in the past three weeks. This aligns with earlier Central Command statements from July 29, which noted that 500 million barrels had been facilitated since May. However, these figures remain significantly lower than pre-war levels, when approximately 20 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil and products flowed through the strait. The exact volume of oil transiting Hormuz daily remains contested, with U.S. officials and private analysts offering divergent estimates. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright recently stated that the seven-day average of oil exports through the strait had risen to nearly 9 million bpd, while private maritime intelligence firm Windward reported an average of 5 million bpd in July. Windward’s senior analyst, Michelle Wiese Bockmann, noted that exports are expected to increase in August, citing growing efforts by Gulf states to maintain output despite Iranian pressure.#strait_of_hormuz #central_command #u_s_navy #windward #bimco
